Journey to Become the Zenith

A Hero’s Heart in Turmoil (Part 3)

Instead...

He maintained the relaxed pace of an ordinary pedestrian.

One intersection.

Then another.

His breathing remained even.

Outwardly...

Nothing seemed unusual.

Inwardly...

Every nerve in his body screamed at him to run.

Not yet...

Don’t panic.

Running now would only confirm her suspicions.

He turned the corner of the street.

For one brief moment, the temptation became overwhelming.

Sprint.

Disappear.

Escape while you still can.

His legs almost obeyed.

Almost.

But reason prevailed.

No.

Victor is probably watching every exit from the city.

If I flee now...

I’m dead.

The assassin steadied his breathing once again.

I need another hiding place.

Somewhere no one will think to look.

His own residence was no longer safe.

There was every chance Victor had already arranged for someone to monitor it.

His gaze swept across the surrounding streets.

Then an idea surfaced.

A temporary refuge...

I’ll simply hypnotize someone.

The first suitable person I find.

Once that woman stops following me...

I’ll disappear again.

Without breaking stride...

He continued deeper into the busy streets of Fantom City, pretending to be nothing more than another weary survivor rebuilding his life after the disaster.

Behind him...

Videl quietly continued following, still unable to explain why her instincts refused to let the mysterious stranger out of her sight.

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The evening sun slowly descended toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the recovering streets of Fantom City.

The assassin maintained an unhurried pace.

Outwardly, he appeared no different from the countless citizens wandering the city after another exhausting day of rebuilding.

Inwardly...

His mind raced without pause.

She’s still following me...

Without turning around, he carefully observed the reflections in nearby shop windows.

Videl remained several dozen steps behind him.

She wasn’t trying to hide.

Nor was she confronting him.

She simply continued walking at a steady pace.

That made him even more uneasy.

Does she know...

Or doesn’t she?

He couldn’t tell.

If she had truly uncovered his identity, she should have attacked by now.

Instead...

She merely watched.

That uncertainty gnawed relentlessly at his nerves.

Stay calm.

Don’t give yourself away.

He silently repeated those words to himself.

The streets around him bustled with life despite the scars left by the undead invasion.

Merchants had reopened temporary stalls.

Carpenters repaired shattered storefronts.

Children cautiously played among buildings that had only recently been cleared of debris.

Life continued.

Exactly the kind of environment he preferred.

Crowded.

Chaotic.

Perfect for disappearing.

Yet...

No matter how ordinary everything appeared...

He couldn’t shake the feeling that invisible eyes were constantly fixed upon him.

Victor...

The mere thought of that man caused his heartbeat to quicken.

He’s probably already arranged surveillance throughout the city.

Returning home would be suicide.

His rented house was compromised.

Even if no one stood outside at the moment...

He couldn’t risk it.

I need somewhere temporary.

A place no one would associate with me.

His thoughts quickly settled on a simple solution.

Hypnosis.

It had served him well countless times before.

If he found an ordinary citizen living alone, manipulating them into offering shelter would be effortless.

After lying low for several weeks...

Perhaps even months...

Victor’s attention would naturally shift elsewhere.

Only then would he escape Fantom City.

The assassin nodded inwardly.

That’s the safest option.

He continued walking.

Behind him...

Videl frowned slightly.

She still couldn’t explain why this stranger bothered her so much.

Everything about him looked perfectly ordinary.

His footsteps.

His posture.

Even the rhythm of his breathing appeared completely natural.

Yet...

That very normality felt unnatural.

Almost rehearsed.

She quietly observed him.

Why do I feel like...

He’s pretending?

The thought surprised even her.

She had no evidence.

Only instinct.

Normally she would have dismissed such a vague feeling.

But after everything Fantom City had endured...

She had learned to trust her instincts.

So she continued following from a respectful distance.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither acknowledged the other.

The silent pursuit continued through several streets before the man finally slowed.

A modest pub stood before him.

Warm lantern light spilled through its open doorway.

Laughter drifted outside together with the aroma of roasted meat and freshly baked bread.

Without hesitation...

The assassin stepped inside.

Good.

If she sees me eating peacefully...

She’ll eventually lose interest.

He chose a table near the center of the room.

Not too close to the entrance.

Not too close to the back exit.

A position that allowed him to observe nearly everyone inside.

A serving girl approached.

"What would you like?"

He ordered an ordinary meal and waited patiently.

Nothing suspicious.

Nothing memorable.

Exactly as planned.

Outside...

Videl paused.

She looked through the open doorway.

The man had simply entered to eat.

No secret meeting.

No strange behavior.

She let out a quiet sigh.

Maybe...

I really am overthinking this.

The strange feeling remained...

But it had weakened considerably.

After all...

People needed to eat.

She couldn’t follow a complete stranger forever based solely on intuition.

Videl turned slightly, preparing to leave.

At that exact moment—

The tavern door opened again.

Three familiar figures entered one after another.

Victor.

Clara.

And Aria.

Victor’s sharp golden eyes calmly swept across the room the instant he stepped inside.

Clara followed beside him, her expression vigilant.

Aria looked around curiously, searching every corner of the pub.

For a single heartbeat...

Time itself seemed to freeze.

Videl blinked in surprise.

"What are they doing here...?"

She whispered under her breath.

Inside the tavern...

The assassin’s face nearly twitched.

His heart plummeted into his stomach.

What the fuck?!*

Did someone put a fucking curse on me?!*

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

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